Newtown Library's recently launched Kohinga Kākano is the first seed library in the capital city. Photo: RNZ / Mary Argue
A new Wellington library initiative sees people not just picking up Jack and the Beanstalk the book, but the beans now too.
Newtown Library's Kohinga Kākano has become the capital's first-ever seed library in a bid to help people grow their own kai.
And what was a seed of an idea a couple of months' ago, has grown at pace.
City libraries team leader Simon Christiansen said a request for donations saw seeds pouring in from vendors up and down the country.
"We've had more donations than we expected, there's been huge generosity."
But it wasn't just the volume, the variety of seeds was impressive he said, with donations ranging from a heritage vegetable organisation in Whanganui to the famous pumpkin patch at Miramar's former prison gardens.
"Silverbeet, bishop's flower bulbs, zucchini, beans - we've got about 10 different bean varieties."
Flowers and native tree seeds were also represented - anything was acceptable, Christiansen said, it just had to be clearly labelled .
The only cost was packaging the seeds in little envelopes with handy how-to-grow instructions.
Wellington City Libraries team leader Simon Christiansen inspecting donations at the Newtown branch's seed library. Photo: RNZ / Mary Argue
Wellington City Libraries team leader Simon Christiansen inspecting donations at the Newtown branch's seed library.
Christiansen said the concept of a seed library was not a new one, and the Newtown staff had drawn inspiration from libraries overseas and also ones a little closer to home.
Germinate Collective's Ami Kennedy said Nelson's seed library put down roots in 2016 and has been flourising ever since.
She said what began as box of seeds travelling between permaculture workshops grew into the established seed library today, where people take seeds, grow plants, and then return seeds from those crops to the library.
A Newtown library regular, who preferred not to be named, said he simply there to read the paper when he clocked the Kohinga Kākano amongst the stacks of books.
Despite having no claim to a green thumb, he said, he couldn't help given the idea a go.
"I've taken lettuce, I've taken carrots, and chives ... and I've thrown them in the section and these little seedlings are growing."
Another library-goer took a couple of packets of seeds for her daughter-in-law.
"She plants a lot of flowers, vegetables, fruits. It's a big garden, a really big one."
Librarian Meena Al-Emleh said the blue shackamaxon bean was a favourite - and not just because of its name - it was also easy to grow.
They suggested planting the bean alongside corn and either squash or pumpkin - in the traditional agricultural 'three sisters' method.
Christiansen said Newtown's Kohinga Kākano was unlikely to remain the only seed library in Wellington for long, with the idea spreading to Cummings Park Library on the opposite side of the city in Ngaio.
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